December 2024 Still Point
Author: Anthony Tucker, OMS II Position: UIWSOM, national coordinator Title: Holiday rounds at the dinner table Description: This poem seeks to capture the experience of a medical student coming home for the holidays. This festive gathering quickly turns into an impromptu health consultation once family realizes you're in medical school. Despite the questions and challenges, these moments can serve to remind you of the connection you have to your family and your studies, blending frustration with gratitude. Holiday rounds at the dinner tableBeing home for the holidays should be a respite
From textbooks and lectures late into night. This peace is fleeting as family appears, with questions of health hitting my ears. Aunt Mary’s rash, Uncle Joe’s bad back
Grandma’s sore knee, each symptom a puzzle they bring to me. “What’s the best diet? How much should I weigh? Is this medication ok to take every day?” I smile and deflect, “Ask your doctor,” I say,
Hoping for a moment to rest and play. Between turkey and talk, I hear ailments each year, yet one thing is clear: their trust brings them near. Though the moments are tough, they’re treasures too,
Fuel for the soul as studies renew. These bonds remind me of all I pursue, to carry their trust in all I do. |